Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-29

graphic page of one Of Lincon's messages
sell for 81 at an auction the other day. Hayes
wrote a pinched and cramped hand Gar
field furnished good copy, and Grant wrote
usually on manifold and we didn't have to
correct it after he had once furnished it.
Bayard writes very fair hand. Lamar's
signature is bold one, and Manning's sigma
ture is like that of ex-Treasurer Spinner,
the best part of his hand writing"
So
Col John Brownlow, Parson Brownlow's
son, tells me that he sat on Sam Houstons
knee when he was boy, and that he knew
him when he was in the United States sem
ate He says that Houston came to Washing
ton from Texas dressed in the frontier style of
that time. He wore a fancy Mexican blanket
of bright colors about his shoulders, and had
all the characteristics of the wild man of the
west. He was won't to sit in his chair in the
senate with his feet upon the desk, whiting
at pine or cedar sticks during the discussions
of the senate. He made little n1ementoes for
his friends, and he got to be known as "the
whiting SENATOR" and because of his idiosyn-
crasies the other senators placed a low esti-
mate upon his abilities. Washington did not
appreciate him, and he was here for long
time before he got the credit he really de-
oCi SSu. llc was oHc VI tuc SIcdb Ilietl VI ILLS
country's history, and he was one of the no.
blest men l have ever known. He early came
into prominence in Tennessee and attracted
the attention of Andrew jackson by his
bravery in the Indian wars He was wound
ed in certain engagement, and he was but a
boy at the time. The. Indian arrow had gone
deep into his leg, and the surgeon had at
tempted to pull it out, but failed Houston
hereupon grasped hold Of the stem of the
arrow himself and jerked it out without
cry. Gen. Jackson was standing by at the
time. He was surprised at Houston's forti-
tude, and he became his friend from that
moment. Houston studied law and was soon
made q member of the legislature
He was then elected governor, and he was
at this time one of the great catches of the
state. While governor he fell in love with
very pretty girl Of the capital, proposed to
her and married her. Shortly after his mar
riage lie found that his wife did dot love him,
and that she had married him only because
Of the opportunities of her parents, who
thought the match a good one. Houston
then asked her if she loved any one else. She
replied that she did, and named the man. He
said nothing to her, but Immediately left
Nashville and gave her an opportunity for
divorce on the ground of desertion. He went
among tne Cnerokee Indians, look up their
habits, and was adopted, think, by the
Cherokee chief. He drank deeply, and led
wild and savage life. He became very popu-
lar with the Indians. and at one time under
took mission to Washington to expose the
frauds practiced upon them. After this he
went back to his savage life and drank more
deeply than ever. One day a friend of his
came to see him and to urge him to re-enter
He told him that he had no
right to make beast of himself, and that he
ought to give up drinking, leave the Indians,
and be man. Houston showed no DISPOSE
ton to do this until the man described the
battle of the Alamo, which had just taken
place, and which had resulted in such loss of
life to the Americans Houston, when he
had heard the story, jumped to his feet and
said that he proposed to go to Texas and be
man again. He did go. He became COM
mander in chief of the Texas forces and first
president Of the Texas republic. He was
strongly In favor of annexation, and it was
through him largely that Texas was brought
into the Union. When this occurred, in 1S46,
lie was elected TO the United States senate as
its representative, and he stayed there until
1859. lie died in 1868 at Huntersville, Texas.
FRANK Il. CARPENTER.